Cobb teacher named Georgia history teacher of the year

A Cobb County teacher was named 2011 Georgia History Teacher of the Year by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Betsey Kennedy, who teaches fourth grade at Big Shanty Elementary in Kennesaw, gets a $1,000 honorarium and an invitation to a summer seminar at institute. She's also in the running for the national award.

Winners are selected based on creativity and use of historical documents. Kennedy used a mix of films and historical fiction while teaching her students. She also helped write district and state curriculum.